Hoist and transport apparatus



p 1947- H. H. GILBERT 2,427,667

HOIST AND TRANSPORT APPARATUS Filed March '7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l a Hb l i= W gnaw/whorl HAROLD H GILBART,

P l947- H. H. GILBERT V 2,427,667

HOIST AND TRANSPORT APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1945 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 3.'

Sept. 23, .1947. H. H. GILBERT HOIST AND TRANSPORT ARPARATUS Filed March7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HAAOZD 6. 6415527" Patented Sept. 23, 1947STATES PATENT OFFICE- (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hoisting andtransporting apparatus and more particularly to hoisting andtransporting apparatus for boats or other weighty objects.

An object of the invention is the provision of a hoisting andtransporting apparatus which is Simple in construction and requires aminimum of material to build it.

Another object is to provide a hoisting and transporting apparatus forboats or other objects which has improved maneuverability and capabilityto enter the water at the beach and to embrace or receive a boat orother object, and to hoist the boat or the like from the water or beach,or to lower and launch a boat from the hoist.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus providing greatersafety to the operating personnel.

A further object is to provide a hoisting and transporting apparatuswith means to prevent damage to the boat or other object receivedthereby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyindrawings, which are exemplary, and in which:

Fig, l is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of a detail.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame structureincluding a gallows frame I supported by two preferably pneumatic tiredwheels 2 which are preferably cantilevered on the inside of the frame Ib axles 3 mounted in boxings 3 secured to the frame l.

The boxin s 4 which contain the Wheel axles 3 are connected to thesubstantially horizontally disposed yoke 5 which has a central draw bar6 for connection to a suitable draft means such as a caterpillartractor.

The gallows frame I is preferably braced to the horizontal yoke 5 bymeans of two diagonal braces 1, one on each side, as shown in thedrawing. The substantially upright gallows frame desirably is inclinedoutboard slightly as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and may desirably be at anangle of approximately 96 to the horizontal yoke 5, or at an angletherewith such as to substantially oifset or balance the weight of thehorizontal yoke 5 on the tongue of the tractor or the like by throwingtension into the diagonal braces 1.

The gallows frame I also desirably includes a pair of angularly disposedstrut or brace members 8 which extend from intermediate points ofattachment 9 on the side members of the frame I and converge to meet ata central point of attachment II] on the top member of the frame I.

A cross beam l extends between and is secured to the members 8 neartheir apex. The cross beam I! carries the hoist blocks and tackledesirably comprising a set of four-sheave wire rope upper and lowerblocks l2 and I3 and hook 20, which are used to lift the boat or otherobject up into the gallows frame for transportation thereof.

These hoist blocks are used to either lift the boat or the like out ofthe water or from the beach or to lower the boat or the like into thewater or elsewhere. The hoist blocks are desirably operated by a twodrum winch or other suitable apparatus which may be mounted on the rearof the tractor (not shown) Means are provided according to the inventionfor relieving the hoist block of the load of the boat after it ishoisted into the apparatus and while it is being retained in hoistedposition for transportation or other purposes. These means comprisestrap members l4, desirably of wire rope, suspended from the cross beamII which carries the upper hoist block l2. The straps may desirably beprovided with eyes l5 at their upper ends received in eye-bolts or thelike It secured to the crossbeam II. The straps l4 are preferablyprovided at their lower ends with shackles H the bolts l8 of which maybe passed through pad eyes 19 on the lower block l3 when the load is inthe raised position. By releasing the hoisting apparatus, the straps 14take the load of the boat or other object, until it is desired to againlower the boat, for example, after transportation in the apparatus, whenthe hoisting apparatus may again be operated to assume the load, so thatthe shackle bolts may be released, and the boat lowered, as will beobvious.

In order to give ready access to these straps, ladder rungs, asindicated, are preferably provided, welded or otherwise secured to thestrut members 8.

The hoist line 2| from the hoisting blocks passes therefrom over afairlead sheave 22 in a block 24 supported at the top of a set ofupwardly converged standards or leg members 23, the lower ends of whichare suitably secured to and supported by the horizontal yoke frame 5 andtongue 6. One drum of the two drum winch on the tractor, may be used tooperate the line 2| and the main hoist.

A second fairlead sheave 25 is provided in the block 24 receiving a line26, which may be operated by the other drum of the two drum winch on thetractor, to lift the bow of the boat or end of the object, by means ofthe hook 21, against the check chains 28. The check chain 28 aresuitably connected to the frame of the apparatus, and in the embodimentshown, are connected to the corner brace members 29 which extend betweenthe braces and the members 30 of the yoke 5 and are secured in anysuitable manner.

The central draw bar 6 of the horizontal yoke 5 is joined intermediateits length to the two converging members 30 of the yoke 5, and isdesirably joined to a transverse brace member 3| extending between themembers 30.

The drawbar 6 of the hoist is preferably directly connected to thetractor or other draft means by a hinged swive1 joint 32 which takescare of the misalignment of the hoist and the tractor, such as occurs inturning or when one wheel of the hoist is higher than the other orotherwise at a different level or angle from that of th tractor.

The invention involves the mounting of the large rubber or pneumatictired Wheels 2 at the inside of the gallows frame, preferably in acantilevered manner, but in any event sufficiently large and so disposedas to provide an effective cushioning bumper or fender for the boat orother object, which prevents it from being damaged by striking the frameas when dashed thereagainst by the surf. This eliminates the necessityof wrapping parts of the frame of the hoist With cushioning materialsuch as manila rope.

The provision of a hoist having a single set of wheels has the advantageof greater maneuverability and greater safety to operating personnel.Since it has only two wheels or a single set of wheels and is directlyconnected to the tractor, it is much easier to back down over a boat,and otherwise to maneuver, than is the case with the type of apparatusemploying two sets of wheels.

In order to make th hoist in a size and with capacity to lift largerboats or objects, the invention contemplates the provision of dualwheels at each side by extending the axles 3 and placing the additionalwheels 211 on the outside of the frame as indicated in broken lines inFigs. 3 and 5.

It has been found that the hoist of the present invention is extremelyuseful for lifting landing craft and other boats out of the water orlaunching them from the beach and has been in use at an advanced Pacificisland base where it was designed and built. The hoist of the presentinvention is of great usefulness in salvage after a landing operation aswell as in various boat pool repair units. 7

In using the hoist for hoisting boats a sling 33 may desirably be used,as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, for engagement by the hoist hook 20. Theboat or other object is designated by the numeral 34, suspended by thesling and main hoist intermediate the length of the boat.

The hoist may be constructed of any suitable material, and the joints orconnections between the parts thereof may be made in any suitable way.As shown, by way of example, I-I section steel pilin'g has been used forthe main portions of the gallows frame and yoke with steel member ofother sectional shape being employed as braces and other parts. Whereverpossible it is desirable to are weld the structur at the joints.However, sufficient joints are preferably bolted, as indicated by way ofexample, to provide for disassembly into smaller sections for shipment.Gussets may be employed at the joints where desirable as indicated, forexample, at the welded joints at 35 and 36. Additional braces may beprovided such, for example, as indicated at 31 and 38.

It will be understood that various changes in the construction anddetails of the device illustrated and described herein, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof theappended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedrby or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hoisting and transporting apparatus for boats or other objects,a substantiall upright frame for receiving said object, hoisting meanscarried by said frame to support and raise and lower the main load orweight of the boat or other object, and wheels mounted at the lower partof said frame and supporting the frame, said wheels being mounted at theinside of the sides of said frame and having rubber or other cushioningtires and being constructed and disposed and of a size to be engaged bythe boat or other object being received and hoisted in the apparatus andto serve as cushioning fenders or buffers preventing damage to the boatby preventing the boat or other object from striking the frame.

2. In a hoisting apparatus for boats or other objects, a substantiallyupright frame for receiving said object, hoistin means carried by saidframe and comprising an upper hoist sheave block secured to the frame,and a lower hoist sheave block suspended from said upper block andhaving a hoist hook thereon, and Strap means suspended from said frameindependently of said upper hoist sheave and block, said strap meansbeing constructed to .be removably secured to said lower hoist block toreceive and securely retain the load of the hoisted object and tothereby relieve the hoist line and upper hoist block of said load uponrelease of said load by the hoisting line.

3. In a hoisting apparatus for boats or other objects, a substantiallyupright fram for receiving said object, hoisting means comprising hoistblocks and hoist line carried by said frame to support and raise andlower the main load or weight of the boat or other object, asubstantially horizontal yoke member secured at one end to the lower endof the frame, a sheave block supported on standards at the outer part ofsaid yoke member and receiving said hoist line over a sheave in saidsheave block, a second sheave in said sheave block, a second hoist linepassed over said second sheave and having means thereon for attachmentto the adjacent end of the boat or other object, and check chainsattached to the yoke structure for attachment to the sides of the boator other object to limit the upward hoisting movement of the end of theobject by said second line.

4. In a hoisting and transporting apparatus for boats or other objects,a. substantially upright frame for receiving said object, a pair ofangularly disposed brace members meeting centrally of the top member ofthe frame, a cross beam, hoisting means carried by said crossbeam tosupport and raise and lower the main load or weight of the boat or otherobject, supporting wheels mounted in axle boxings at the lower part ofsaid frame, a substantially horizontal yoke member secured at one end tothe wheel axle boxings at the lower end of said frame, substantiallydiagonally disposed brace members connecting the upper part of saidframe with the yoke member, said yoke member having converging portionsat its outer end connected to an intermediate part of a draw bar, atransverse brace member connected between said converging portions andsecured to the inner end of said draw bar, and corner brace membersextending between said converging members and said diagonally disposedbrace members, said draw bar having a hinged swivel joint at its outerend for connection to a suitable draft means.

5. In a hoisting apparatus for boats or other objects, a substantiallyupright frame for receiving said object, hoisting means carried by saidframe and comprising an upper hoist sheave block secured to said frame,and a lower hoist sheave block suspended from said upper block andhaving a hoist hook thereon, a plurality of straps or the like securedto said frame independently of said upper hoist sheave and block anddisposed at either side thereof, and means for removably Numberconnecting the lower ends of said straps with the opposite sides of saidlower moist sheave block to receive and securely retain the load of thehoisted object and to thereby relieve the hoist line and upper hoistblock of said load upon release of said load by the hoist line.

HAROLD H. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

